At COP 27 in November 2022, South Africa launched its new Just Energy Transition Investment Plan and announced a five-year investment plan for the USD 8.5 billion financing package, which was announced as part of the country’s Just Energy Transition Partnership with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union at COP 26. The JET IP is aligned with the Cabinet-approved National Just Transition Framework and outlines the investments required to achieve the country’s decarbonization commitments, while promoting sustainable development, and ensuring a just transition for affected workers and communities.
On 7 November 2022, the Energy Commission issued an information guide for the Corporate Green Power Programme. The CGPP aims to promote the adoption of green energy amongst corporate companies in Malaysia through the use of virtual power purchase agreements which is also known as the Corporate Green Power Agreement. The CGPP is open for application starting from 7 November 2022 until 6 February 2023.
Baker McKenzie was invited to serve as the global editor of the Chambers Advertising & Marketing 2022 Practice Guide which features 8 high-profile jurisdictions and provides the latest legal information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, advertising claims and clinical studies, comparative advertising, social/digital media, influencer campaigns, consumer promotions, sports betting/gambling, and cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens.
The 14th edition of the Insurance Outlook, researched and written by our knowledgeable lawyers in the Insurance Practice Group, offers an overview of the insurance sector in Thailand and is intended as an informative digest of the insurance sector’s most prominent aspects based on the latest reported data.
The fourth session of Vietnam’s National Assembly XV, which is taking place between 20 October 2022 and 18 November 2022, comprises meaningful discussions and the approval of draft legislation. The meeting agenda covers 14 legislative projects, only seven of which will be passed; the other seven will have to wait until the next session (June 2023).
The Malaysian Government has introduced the Corporate Green Power Programme to encourage the adoption of green electricity amongst corporate companies in Malaysia. This new initiative will be in addition to existing initiatives such as the net energy metering scheme, self-consumption schemes and the green electricity tariff programme to bolster Malaysia’s renewable energy agenda and promote carbon reduction.
After the introduction of the UK Modern Slavery Act, the French Duty of Vigilance Law, Germany also followed by adopting the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz or “LkSG”). The LkSG lays down extensive obligations for companies with regard to their own business area, but also their direct and indirect suppliers. Many of the necessary measures require preparation. Therefore, companies should finalize their preparation in the coming weeks as the LkSG enters into force in 2023.
Richard Allen, a principal in Baker McKenzie’s Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration Practice Group based in Singapore, recently co-wrote an article with Roohi Ghelani of Ndevr Environmental.
Baker McKenzie, Trench Rossi Watanabe*, ICC UK and ICC Brasil present “COP Casts”, a series of interviews exploring climate change issues with experts representing a wide range of industries. Discussions on opportunities, complexities and challenges related to carbon markets in particular will introduce our audience to some of the topics that will be centre-stage at the upcoming 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November 2022.
*Trench Rossi Watanabe and Baker McKenzie have executed a strategic cooperation agreement for consulting on foreign law.
After much buzz and anticipation in the Thai energy industry, the Energy Regulatory Commission has finally published (i) the official Regulations for Purchasing Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources under a Feed-in-Tariff Scheme between 2022-2030 for Power Plants with No Fuel Costs on 27 September 2022, and (ii) the official Invitation Notifications for Purchasing Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources under a Feed-in-Tariff Scheme between 2022-2030 for Power Plants with No Fuel Costs, specifying the bidding process and timeline of each type of renewable power plant on 30 September 2022. In keeping with Thailand’s commitment to increase renewable energy’s share in the country’s overall power mix to at least 50% by 2050 and achieve carbon neutrality and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and 2065, respectively, the government will be accepting bids in November to purchase power generated from renewable energy sources in the years between 2024 to 2030.